Tag: personal finance

Invest Effectively

Keeping Up With Election Proposals – Taxing 401Ks

During the Democratic National Convention two weeks ago, news slipped out that Joe Biden was developing a new tax plan that would rollback benefits for 401K plans. He even had his Economic Advisor speak to it at a panel event at the convention. Like many ‘progressive’ initiatives, this one involves reducing or eliminating 401K tax benefits from higher income households and transferring that benefit to … Continue reading Keeping Up With Election Proposals – Taxing 401Ks

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation7 Comments
Invest Effectively

Cashing In Before The Election

After seeing the details of Biden’s big tax increase proposal and reading that there is a legitimate chance that Democrats will win the White House and both houses of Congress this November, I figured it would be a good time to accelerate some MegaCorp stock option sales that I could otherwise stretch out to July 2022. I made my big stock move of the decade … Continue reading Cashing In Before The Election

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation4 Comments
FIRE Observations

Anniversary Memories

This past Tuesday, my wife and I celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a getaway to Minnesota’s scenic North Shore on Lake Superior. Over dinner on the deck of a lakefront restaurant, we were sharing memories of our wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception. They are all distant memories now, but many stick with you from the time they happen. I recalled my Dad’s reaction to the … Continue reading Anniversary Memories

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation11 Comments
Spend Less Than You Make

What Are You Wasting Money on?

We are blessed to be able to live a comfortable lifestyle in early retirement, by almost anyone’s standards. Our son thinks we are sometimes too frugal, but we’ve enjoyed many vacations, entertainment experiences, and everyday luxuries over the last 4 years. In general, our spending is still in line or even slightly below what we planned for our FIRE escape. Still, like most people, we … Continue reading What Are You Wasting Money on?

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation15 Comments
Have A Plan

How Fast Are Prices Really Rising?

Inflation is one of the assumptions that our FIRE financial model is the most sensitive to. Even a half percent change in inflation over a 40 year retirement plan is hugely significant. We use an assumption that our spending inflation will be between 2.5-3.0% a year, which is slightly higher than what the official US Consumer Price Index (CPI) has averaged. I’ve read articles in … Continue reading How Fast Are Prices Really Rising?

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation2 Comments
Have A Plan

Financial Advice For Your Twenties

Our son is just out of college and about 4 weeks into his career in software & web design.  He signed up for all of his work benefits right away, including his health insurance and retirement 401K plan. He’s very thoughtful with his financial approach, but I saw an online chat about ‘Financial Advice For People In Their Twenties’ from the fatFIRE Facebook Group that … Continue reading Financial Advice For Your Twenties

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation9 Comments
Spend Less Than You Make

Small Wedding Sensibility?

June is typically the month of weddings, but the CV-19 pandemic has largely eliminated the big, traditional wedding.  We were planning on attending a couple weddings this summer, but they have both been converted to small, family-only affairs.  Such is 2020. Perhaps it is all for the best when it comes to the cost of hosting a big wedding.  The analysis I did a few … Continue reading Small Wedding Sensibility?

Unknown's avatarMrFireStation2 Comments